Opposition under fire for silence on ‘Fast Track' initiative
![“My question is why haven’t we heard anything before [amendments to Immigration and Passport Act]… immediately after you saw it on the order paper,” was one of the questions posited to Hon Fraser by resident Angelle Cameron, which came in for loud applauds from the audience. Photo: VINO](https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/cache/images/800x_w_WhatsApp_Image_20190524_at_8.14.03_AM_2.jpeg)
Through the ‘Fast Track Initiative’, the intention was to have a bill amending the existing Immigration and Passport Act, to pave the way for the initiative to be achieved by having the bill read in the House of Assembly (HoA) three times at the same sitting, something that has never been done before.
Last night, Thursday, May 23, 2019, Hon Julian Fraser, RA (R3) called a meeting at the Valarie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cow’s Bay to share his views and hear those of residents on the matter. He was joined by Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) along with Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) aka “Mitch”.
Opposition was unaware – Hon Fraser
Hon Fraser explained that it was a “usual” thing in previous government that when the sitting government intends to bring a Bill to the House of Assembly (HoA), prior, they would meet with Members of the Opposition in an informal setting to discuss and peruse the Bill.
This he said gave the opposition a heads up, of what is to come ahead of the first reading and subsequent committee sitting when the formal perusing is done.
He said that in this instance, this was not the case with the new VIP government leading to him and other members of the opposition, coming under fire for not making this position known earlier.
“My question is why haven’t we heard anything before [amendments to Immigration and Passport Act]… immediately after you saw it on the order paper,” was one of the questions posited to Hon Fraser by resident Angelle Cameron, which came in for loud applauds from the audience.
“Honourable Fraser you know that I am one of your biggest fans, you are a person who says it all, favourable, unfavourable, you say everything,” she added.
Further, the resident chastised My Fraser for not speaking up, “You are not Leader of the Opposition but you do have a team, a very strong team. None of you said anything publicly about it. It’s all been very 'hushy'. The only person who we heard from is our Premier, so we are now only listening to the only voice that we are hearing,” she said.
HoA Divided?
According to the vocal resident, up until last night’s meeting, the masses were of the opinion that everyone was united in the House of Assembly (HoA) with the amendments proposed by the VIP cabinet, as it relates to the regularization of persons residing in the territory 15 years or longer.
“To us, everyone is united in the House because we have not heard anything else. You are saying it’s only a week. It only takes you the next day to report to your people, to put a press release out there the day after. Form the minute you get the order paper you could say something,” the vocal resident further lashed out.
She, however, said that persons are now happy to be hearing something, “But it’s disappointing that it’s taken this long because it would have been read three times and we would have been upset with our representatives thinking that you are in agreement with it.”
More Community Meetings
It was revealed that the opposition intends to have more community meetings in their various districts. However, according to Hon Fraser, “You come to a public forum like this, you still can’t get the temperature of the people because there are those who are reluctant to speak from both sides.”
Others in the meeting also agreed that the Opposition was slothful in coming out to voice their position on the matter.
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10 Responses to “Opposition under fire for silence on ‘Fast Track' initiative ”
And the can still save face by saying; in the next 6 months we are going to clear off all the present application we have.
Come the end of the year residents with 20years or more should be invited to apply. and in the middle o next year those with 15 years should be dealt with. Let go.